Staff Shirts for Small Businesses
By The Merch Counter team · Updated · 2 min read
The smartest staff shirt for a small business is the same shirt your customers can buy. When your team wears your merch, customers see it every day, ask about it and buy it. Choose a comfortable tee or apron that suits the job, make sure your logo looks great on it, and put a QR code where customers can buy one too.
Why staff should wear your merch
- It sells. "Where can I get that shirt?" is an easy sales conversation to have.
- It looks consistent. A team in matching shirts or aprons looks professional and on-brand.
- It's a perk. Staff like good-looking shirts they'd wear off-shift.
What to choose by business type
| Business | Staff piece |
|---|---|
| Coffee shop | Apron + tee |
| Bakery | Apron |
| Restaurant | Hat + tee, or apron |
| Brewery | Tee or hoodie |
| Gym or studio | Training tee or tank |
| Retail | Tee or crewneck |
| Barbershop or salon | Apron or tee |
Practical tips
- Pick durable blanks for shirts that are washed often.
- Choose colors that hide wear (darker or heathered).
- Keep the design customer-friendly, so it works as merch too: avoid "STAFF" on the back of the shirt you want customers to buy.
- Embroidered aprons and hats hold up well and look polished.
How to get them
On The Merch Counter:
- Add the products to your shop like any other merch.
- Order one of each as a test — at cost, no fee, no markup — to check fit and feel.
- Order the rest through your shop like a customer would.
When bulk makes more sense: if you need dozens of identical staff shirts at once, a local screen printer may be cheaper per shirt. Even print-on-demand partners discount volume: Printful's bulk pricing puts 500 of a Gildan hoodie at about 38% less each than its starting price. Many businesses do both: bulk for uniforms, print on demand for what customers buy. See Print on Demand vs. Bulk Ordering.
Related: How to Market Your Merch